Electric buses have numerous benefits over standard diesel buses - and that includes their maintenance requirements. EVs are mechanically simpler than internal-combustion vehicles, so you'll be spending less time and money keeping them running. However, they do have their own specific maintenance needs. Is your district ready to take care of your new electric buses? These are some of the most important factors.
Preparing For Electric Buses
1 - Charging Infrastructure
You're going to want chargers onsite for keeping your buses topped up - and they should definitely be "Level 3" chargers capable of delivering up to 500kW for faster recharging. This may require some extra wiring work to ensure all the power needed for the chargers is available, otherwise their charge times may be unacceptably slow.
2 - Lifting Stations
Electric buses typically have their battery running along the underside of the bus, which means they often can't be put onto lift stations designed for standard buses. Every brand of e-bus is different when it comes to which areas are designed for safely using lift equipment. You'll need to learn beforehand where it's safe to lift the bus, and ensure your lifters are configured to match.
3 - New Wheels
While e-buses use basically the same wheels as any other large vehicle, they are typically much heavier than standard buses. This means your existing stockpile of spare wheels may not be able to handle the additional weight. Check the weight rating code on all your wheels, and be ready to replace them with stronger wheels if needed.
4 - Proper Safety Gear and Training
When working with an internal-combustion engine, your biggest concern is usually fire. With EVs, it's electricity. Your maintenance crew will need safety gear designed to protect from high voltage, along with training to use it properly while performing maintenance.
5 - Be Prepared for Winter
Electric vehicles still have some issues in the winter, with lower battery capacity and - occasionally - difficulty starting up in severe cold. If your area has harsh winters, be sure your e-buses are outfitted with heating systems to help with startup. In particularly bad winters with sub-zero temperatures, you may even need to store the buses in a heated space.
BusBoss helps you run your bus system more safely and efficiently, with a wide range of software and hardware that can fit any budget. Contact us to learn more about how to save money on your bus fleet!
Contact us to learn more about DISTRICTpatrol.
Contact us to request a free demo to be eligible for our 2025 Kickoff Promotion.
Buy One Get One – Buy BusBoss or ROUTEpatrol Tablets and receive another product for free!
PRESIDENT
Sonia has been involved with BusBoss since the late 1990’s, and has personally overseen many projects for various customers ranging from large urban and suburban districts to smaller rural school districts from all over the country. In all cases, her primary goal was to improve their transportation operations by reducing their operating expenses while simultaneously improving student safety and parent satisfaction.